Out & About on the West Coast
The
West Coast Conservancy of the Department of Conservation administers an astounding 76 percent of the 1.8 million hectares of the
West Coast. That includes the Kahurangi, Paparoa,
Arthur's Pass, Westland and Mount Aspiring National Parks. The latter two are also part of the South-West New Zealand World Heritage Site, which is recognised by UNESCO as one of the world's most important natural sites. On the Coast (as it's commonly known) there are 1500km of tracks, 162 huts, 85 bridges, 66 toilets, 94 picnic areas, eight boat ramps and seven jetties.
Along the West Coast's 600km length, you will see primitive towering rainforest, bizarre limestone landscapes, mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, rare birds and plants. You can go white water rafting, kayaking, underground-cave rafting, ice caving, mountain biking, surfing, jetboating, climbing, hiking, fishing, horse trekking and gold panning.
Out & About
- Karamea
At the top of the coast, Karamea is the gateway to the Kahurangi National Park. It includes coastal forests of nikau palm and the Oparara Basin, with its limestone caves and structures including the Oparara Arch.
- Punakaiki - Pancake Rocks
The most popular site on the West Coast, attracting 471,000 annual visitors, is the Pancake Rocks formation in the Paparoa National Park. In the right conditions, the sea erupts up to 10m through a blowhole eroded out of limestone which looks uncannily like a stack of pancakes. A new cantilevered platform lets you see down the blowhole's throat. Take a hint and walk the 10 minutes down Truman Track just before Punakaiki - it is one of the most stunning coastal scenes on the whole coast and not as well known as it deserves.
Greymouth & Hokitika
- Greymouth
Shantytown, south of the coast's biggest town, Greymouth, is a replica pioneering town with steam trains, a working gold mine and 30 historical buildings.
- Hokitika
Gold created Hokitika and today it's one of the best places to buy greenstone (jade) products.
- Hokitika Wild Food Festival
Every March, thousands flock to Hokitika to eat food from the land and sea at the Hokitika Wild Food Festival.
- Okarito Lagoon
Near Hokitika is Okarito Lagoon where you will find the only colony for New Zealand's remaining 150 kotuku (white heron).
The Glaciers - Fox Franz Josef
- Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
After the Pancake Rocks, the most popular destination (200,000+ visitors) on the coast are the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. These obliging glaciers are easily reached from carparks. You can almost guarantee that the cheeky kea parrots will land on your vehicle by the time you've pulled on your handbrake and will continue to peck at anything they can while you're off walking. Walking on a glacier feels like being a bird on an elephant's back – you're always aware that this great beast has the final say. Walking to the terminal face is easy but don't walk on a glacier without an experienced guide.
- Flightseeing
Like Canterbury's alpine regions, this phenomenal landscape is best seen from above and The Helicopter Line offers a number of excursions from Franz Josef and Fox townships. You can land on a glacier and take a two-hour guided walk or just land and stroll. Because Mount Cook and Tasman Glacier are just over the main divide, you can see those too. There are five flight options and they all include a snow landing. These are truly spectacular flights and you'll be glad you took one. For further information, call free on 0800 807 767.
Around Haast
- Jackson Bay
Although State Highway Six turns inland after crossing the formidable Haast River, it's worth driving further down the coast to Jackson Bay. This is a (sealed) road less travelled, but it offers incredible scenery of coastal forest, wild ocean and mountains. Once again, the road that branches off to the Cascade River, just before Jackson Bay, is inspiringly beautiful with beech forest and misty valleys.
- Department of Conservation (DoC)
The road to Haast is littered with Department of Conservation (DoC) areas that are well worth stopping at, like Lake Paringa for the solitude, Knights Point for the panoramic coastal views and Ship Creek for native bush crowding the coast. Whichever direction you go from Haast, stop at the DoC Visitor Centre at Haast as it gives an excellent interpretation of the South West World Heritage Area. Once travelling inland through the Gates of Haast, you'll be bombarded with DoC walks and points of interest. They're all worth stopping at. As you will have found out by now, the Coasties are rough diamonds with hearts of gold.
